A Postcard - 19 to 26 September 2026

Dear All

Here's a summary of our week's activities.

Saturday 19 September 2026
Wythenshawe Park's 683rd parkrun provided a full morning's entertainment by the time we had finished and enjoyed our regular post run natter over coffees and cake before making our way home.

Barking dogs are kept at a distance before the start, or the Run Director's briefing can't be heard.

I wonder what Oliver would have made of this in real life...

Here are just a few of the 332 finishers, guzzling anything between a decaffe coffee and George's egg bacon and sausage bun.

L-R: Andy, Jan, Jeanette, Paul, Jenny, George and Owen. Sue left early to go bell ringing.

Full results are here.

Sunday 20 September 2026

Sue and I spent the morning in Wilmslow. A 5km circuit including The Carrs and Black Lake kept me occupied, passing en route this lovely sculpture.

It was the day of the Wilmslow Sprint Triathlon. Sue had entered this and I caught up with her near the start of a 24 kilometre bike ride. This followed a 400 metre swim  - 16 lengths of the local pool.

There's a strict requirement to dismount at the end of the bike leg before The Line' or you are in dead trouble from the over-officious marshall.

Then it's a walk to the transition area where the bike is stashed and running kit donned for two 3 kilometre laps of a moderately easy course.

We finish with Sue jogging in, having taken 1 hour 45 minutes and coming third out of 4 in her age category and in position 115 out of 214 finishers. Well done!

Monday 21 September 2026

Sue and I enjoyed a 6 km stroll along the Bridgewater Canal towpath, to meet Andrew, Richard and Jenny for lunch at Dunham Massey Hall.

A family of swans appeared to think we had brought their lunch.

At one point the foliage had been cleared to offer a good view towards the C18th Whiteoaks Wood obelisk in one direction, and the hall in the opposite direction. 

Legend has it that the obelisk marks the resting place of a reknowned racehorse.

After lunch, a stroll in the park was in order, with me diverting through the nearby golf course to visit the fleshpots of Altrincham for essential supplies.

Later:

A visit to Eagley Jazz Club for an excellent performance of Smooth Jazz from John Hallam and the Tom Kincaid Trio, featuring. John Hallam - Reeds, Tom Kincaid - Keyboard, Dave Tompkins - Bass, and Eryl Roberts - Drums.

Last week's table plan was considered inappropriate, so this week, with an audience of 50 compared with last week's 71, attempt number two was experimented with. I think they'll have a third go at this...

Tuesday 22 September 2026

A regular 5km stroll took me through leafy De Quincey Park in the morning mist. Picture sent to BBC Weatherwatchers but not expecting them to use it. I was right about that.

Thursday 24 September 2026

Sue and I were joined by Jenny and Fechin for 'Spunch Northenden', on which there will be a separate diary entry.



Friday 25 September 2026

Our neighbour, 'D', invited us for coffee and a chat before, very sadly, she and her family move to Egypt. They have been great next door but one neighbours and have watered Sue's plants very efficiently when we have been away during the very dry summer. They leave next week, and will be missed.

Saturday 26 September 2026

These parkruns do come round quickly. Today Wythenshawe Park hosted its 684th such outing.

With ongoing injury issues, I walked then jogged a little (more a sort of shuffle), coming home in 41:35, in position 396 out of 423 finishers. Sue managed 25:21 in position 111.

Here are most of them at the start through the sunlit trees in the park on a lovely morning when feet got wet thanks to the dewy grass.

Afterwards everyone in our little group enjoyed our coffees in the sunshine.

 

L-R: Owen, Sue, Andy, Paul, Jan and George, who's just guzzled another egg, bacon and sausage bun.

The full results are here.

Monday 27 July 2026 - A Stroll to Dunham Massey

Sue, Jenny, Andy and I set off from Timperley Bridge at 11am and were joined by Paul, Jeanette and Rufus half an hour later at Seamons Bridge. It was a pleasant walk along the Bridgewater Canal towpath, with a wide variety of wild flowers, and ripening blackberries, on this route full of greenery.

A little further on, a pair of swans were minding their two offspring, and a mallard was keeping a close eye on her six, healthy looking, ducklings.

The blue flash of a kingfisher caused a bit of excitement as it was then seen to launch itself from a branch into the canal, emerging with a fish either for itself or its young.

After a while we came to the point where the canal has been closed since 1 January 2025, following a breach caused by heavy rain. The section between Dunham and Agden Bridge is targeted to be reopened by the end of 2026, though a lot of work will be needed to clear vegetation and other debris, as well as making good the breach and installing precautionary hardware to prevent further breaches.

It's amazing how quickly the towpath and its supports have succumbed to the lack of water and maintenance.

The above pictures were taken from the left hand bank, where we assembled on a magnificent bridge that sports a fine view across to the fields of Dunham Massey, as well as disclosing some of the damage on the towpath side.

After passing the C17th corn mill (below) that was converted to a sawmill in 1860, we found our way to some very comfortable seating in the café where we must have spent a good hour or so.

The front of the hall is in a mess at present due to conservation work to the path in front of the house.

From outside the hall, we took the path down Smithy Drive to exit towards Dunham Town.

Soon we were on the field path to the golf course.

We exited from the woodland next to the golf course and made our way via Denzell Gardens and the Devisdale to Altrincham and the easy walk home after I'd relieved Tesco of some ingredients for dinner.

Here's our route - always a pleasure - about 15 km with 100 metres ascent, taking 4 hours plus a lengthy break in the Dunham Massey café.

 

Thursday 20 March 2025 - Dunham Massey Winter Garden

View from the entrance gate, with Mallards and Tufted Ducks

Various distractions have meant Dunham has missed out on our usual regular visits this year, but Thursday's nice weather and a free day enabled Sue and me to enjoy a rare visit.

On our way to the Winter Garden we passed the 500 year old oak tree.

I won't attempt to annotate all the pictures that follow, but here are a few of them:

I don't know the purpose of these little flags!

Acer griseum (says the label)

We left the garden and walked the perimeter of the walled estate. We saw no deer, but Coots and Swans were busy constructing their nests.

Given the excellent weather, this was a perfect way to spend a couple of hours on a March morning.